Biology, 3:45 p.m., 136 Norris: "Compartments and Symmetry Systems
in
the Wing Pattern of Butterflies: The Evolution of a Developmental System," by
Fred Nijhout, Duke.

Bulletins

Exemplary Awards nominations sought

Each year the university recognizes three departments or programs
which
have demonstrated outstanding achievement in maintaining an excellent academic
environment for students and faculty members alike. This year, the departments
and programs will be recognized for their work in developing and sustaining
innovative and effective departmental approaches to introductory courses,
graduate or undergraduate levels.The awards include a $10,000 to
$20,000 operating budget supplement for the departments or programs.

Nominations are invited from students, from faculty members, and from
others
who have benefited from the work of the department in sustaining excellence in
introductory courses. Letters of nominations (not to exceed two pages) should
describe the introductory course(s), addressing what aspects of the course or
curriculum have made this program stand out from others. Letters should be
addressed to: Exemplary Department and Program Awards Committee, c/o Susan
Brooker-Gross, Office of the Provost CAMPUS 0132. The deadline for receipt of
nomination letters is February 5.

Life insurance enrollment period ends tonight

The Virginia Retirement System has extended the open enrollment
for the
optional life-insurance program until midnight tonight, November 30. The
effective date of insurance for those enrolling in November is Jan. 1,
1996.

Employees may enroll by calling 1-800-711-1171 24 hours a day, seven
days a
week. Paper enrollment forms may be obtained from Personnel Services.

For more information, call the toll-free number or call Personnel Services
at
1-7776.

YMCA International Bazaar this weekend

The YMCA International Bazaar will be held Friday and Saturday,
December 1 and 2, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at the YMCA, 703 Washington St. SW.

This nonprofit, service bazaar is a celebration of crafts and culture,
and
features distinctive handicrafts from around the world. Items include
nativities and Christmas decorations from Peru, the West Bank, Laos, and
Thailand; carved animals from Kenya; musical instruments from the Cameroon and
Bolivia; onyx from Pakistan; wood and brass items from India; and jewelry from
many nations.

The bazaar is an alternative shopping opportunity that provides a direct
way
to help the economy, health, and education of artisans and their families in
developing countries. It will be hosted by international women who are members
of the YMCA Mornings program.

Proceeds from the event benefit 35 developing countries through
Selfhelp
Crafts of the World, a service of the Mennonite Central Committee. A portion
of
the proceeds will be used to help develop a sewing skills project at the YMCA
in Sao Tome and Principe, West Africa.

Interlibrary Loan Office holiday schedule announced

The Interlibrary Loan Office of Newman Library will be closed
from
Thursday, Dec. 21, through Tuesday, Jan. 2.

During this period, library patrons will be able to pick up or return
their
ILL materials at the Photocopy Service Counter. Requests may be submitted
there
in a tray labeled "ILL Requests."

CEUT announces grants competition

The Center for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching (CEUT) has
announced its grants competitions for the coming year in the following
categories:

Academic Year Teaching Release Grants provide faculty members with
release
time from existing teaching responsibilities to facilitate the development of
new courses, revise existing courses, modify curricula, and incorporate new
technologies.

Mini-Grants for teaching improvement projects may be submitted at any
time.
Summer Faculty Fellows supports projects to develop a new course or to improve
an existing course. Teaching-Learning Grants supports projects that evidence a
strong probability of improving learning in the courses in which they are
implemented.

For more information, contact CEUT Director, Terry Wildman,
wiley@vt.edu, 1-9109. The deadline is March 1.

Center for Interdisciplinary Studies hosting open house

The newly formed Center for Interdisciplinary Studies will host
an open
house and holiday reception on Tuesday, Dec. 5. Offices will be open in Major
Williams and Lane Halls for tours from 6-7 p.m., and there will be
refreshments
and entertainment from 7 -8:30 p.m. in the Major Williams atrium. Everyone is
welcome.

Women's Month planning committee to meet

The Women's Month 1996 planning committee meets the first and
third
Wednesday of each month through March in the Price House at 5:30 p.m. The next
meeting is December 6. Meetings are open to everyone interested, and new
members are encouraged. For more information, call 1-7806.

Poirier-Bures to read and sign book

Simone Poirier-Bures, novelist and Virginia Tech English
instructor,
will read and sign copies of her new novel, That Shining Place, at University
Volume Two Bookstore Saturday, Dec. 2, from 2-4 p.m.

The book tells the story of a young Canadian woman's search for a
simple,
authentic life on the Greek island of Crete in the mid 1960s. It is about the
nature of memory, friendship, freedom, and the conscious making of a self.

Poirier-Bures is the author of Candyman, published in 1994. Her
fiction
and prose have been published in numerous literary journals and included in
five anthologies.

The event is free and open to the public. Volume Two Bookstore is located
in
the University Mall, next to Kroger. For more information, call Corey
Burroughs
at 1-5213.

RIF policy now on line

The latest draft revision of the Faculty Handbook Section
2.11.3,
"Reduction in Force for Program Restructuring or Discontinuance," is available
electronically on the university's WWW Server (URL =
http://www.vt.edu/RIF-Draft.html) and Gopher Server (the URL is
gopher://gopher.vt.edu:70/00/faculty/RIF-Draft).

The document is located on the "Faculty and Staff Information" menu. It
also
is on reserve at Newman Library. The policy has been under discussion at the
Commission on Faculty Affairs since last year and will be scheduled for a
first
reading at University Council soon.